— Kayla Harrison became the first American judo champion in the Olympics, winning the gold medal in the under-78-kilogram division by beating Britain's Gemma Gibbons 2-0. Harrison was sexually abused as a child by a judo coach who later was sentenced to 10 years in prison and expelled for life from the sport.

— Carmelo Anthony set the U.S. Olympic mark for points in a basketball game — in less than three quarters. He scored 37, going 10 of 12 on 3-pointers, to lead the U.S. to an epic blowout against Nigeria, 156-73. Russell Westbrook scored 21 and Kobe Bryant added 16. The Americans also set the Olympic record for points in a game and points in a half (78). Brazil held the previous Olympic record of 138 points, against Egypt in 1988

— Rafalca, a horse part-owned by Ann Romney, and rider Jan Ebeling posted a score good for 13th place in equestrian dressage with half the 50 competitors still to go. The wife of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney watched from the VIP section, gave horse and rider a standing ovation, and said the performance "thrilled me to death."

MEDALS

— Sizwe Ndlovu and fellow crew members James Thompson, Matthew Brittain and John Smith won the lightweight men's four to give South Africa its first rowing gold medal in the sport.

— The United States and China are tied for the lead in gold medals with 18 each. The Americans have three more total medals, 37 in all.

NOT THEIR FINEST HOUR

Two disqualifications marred the women's team sprint in track cycling at the London Velodrome. In the first round, the British pair made an early change — the point in the race when one rider gives way to the second. The Chinese team of Guo Shuang and Gong Jinjie, which had already set two world records at the event, dominated the final and had just finished a victory lap when they were disqualified for an illegal lane change. The Germans took gold.

JUDO DIPLOMACY

Russian President Vladimir Putin, a longtime judo enthusiast, cheered on his country's newest gold medalist, Tagir Khaibulaev, from a VIP seat in ExCel arena. Putin watched the fight with British Prime Minister David Cameron and appeared to educate him on the finer points of the sport. Later, Putin met Khaibulaev moments after he walked off the mat, wrapped him in a warm embrace, and tousled his hair.

FRIDAY'S SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS

— Swimming: finals in men's 100-meter butterfly, men's 50-meter freestyle, women's 200-meter backstroke, women's 800-meter freestyle.

— Track and field: men's shot put final.

— Women's Diving: springboard qualifying.

— Women's volleyball: U.S. vs. Serbia.

— Men's gymnastics: trampoline final.